Joey calls for Titans to axe their $1 million man

by Zac Rayson

23rd May 2019 10:41 AM

THE struggling Gold Coast Titans have copped a barrage of criticism overnight from both inside and outside the club, with NRL legends calling for million-dollar star Ash Taylor to be dropped following the team's worst start to a season.

It followed club co-owner Darryl Kelly's stern warning on Wednesday to the underperforming coaching staff, saying "everyone will be judged on results", and instructing them to "do their jobs".

Also on Wednesday, Queensland legend Darren Lockyer questioned Taylor's work ethic, saying his performances had not been worthy of his million-dollar-a-season price tag.

Lockyer told Channel 9: "My view is if you pay someone a million bucks, you need to know they've got talent, which he's got. But it needs to come with the work ethic, where you know he's going to turn up every week.

"That, I question right now. But that's up to Ash, if he can find it."

Kelly told The Courier-Mail the side's performances had been so poor the club's projected profit for the 2019 season was at risk.

"We were projecting a profit, but if the form of the side doesn't pick up, we will record a loss," he said.

Mal Meninga is all smiles, but his time at the Titans has been anything but happy so far. Picture: Jerad Williams

He called on the football department - from Brennan to culture-and-performance boss Mal Meninga - to "do their jobs" and turn things around.

"All I will say is everyone is judged on their results, there's no doubt about that," said Kelly, who is also a director at the Gold Coast club.

"The board has to make judgment on whether people beneath them are doing their jobs properly or not - that's the truth of the matter.

"With the football department, there are people employed to do their jobs, that's what we expect and we will make judgments on them at the appropriate time."

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